I’m writing to invite all your readers, old and young, to back the Love The Bus Pass’ campaign which is supported by the National Pensioners’ Convention and many local groups.

The campaign is non-partisan and aims to get all the major parties to pledge, in advance of the 2015 general election that, if elected, they will retain the England bus pass as a universal entitlement free at the point of use.

The first step is to get as close as we can to 100,000 signatures on the bus pass petition by the end of August (currently we’re on 42,000).

Supporters will deliver these to No.10 on September 10 when we will also lobby our respective MPs. Since April 2008, 11million older, and blind and disabled people have been entitled to travel with their passes on local buses throughout England. It is greatly valued and enables users to continue to make a huge social and economic contribution to the life of the nation. Readers can contact me to request petition forms and campaign material by email: richardvworrall@yahoo.com or phone: 01922 641084. — Richard Worrall, Love The Bus Pass campaign co-ordinator, Walsall, West Midlands